Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may be innocent and pure as God’s perfect children, who live in a world of corrupt and sinful people. You must shine among them like stars lighting up the sky. ~ Philippians 2:14, 15 (GNB)
READING: Philippians 1:12-19
“Do everything without complaining…” (Phil. 2:14). When was the last time you complained? Perhaps it was not long ago. God tells us not to complain.I believe He gives us this command for three good reasons:
1. Complaining hurts us: it robs us of joy;
2. Complaining hurts others: we rob them of joy;
3. Complaining hurts God: it pains Him to see His children be ungrateful. Ephesians 4:30a says, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God.”
Church planting leaders can certainly find plenty of reasons to complain. Yet our problems are often trivial when compared to those of the Apostle Paul, who was used by God to give this command. He wrote the Epistle to the Philippians while sitting in jail just for telling people about Jesus; chained to guards twenty-four hours a day; awaiting trial; knowing that he could lose his life for the Gospel – which, of course, he did eventually.
What is the antidote? Our minds cannot run in a vacuum. The solution is thanksgiving – filling our minds with gratitude and praise to God for who He is and for all the blessings He has given us. Even if we have lost everything on earth, as Paul had, we can praise Him for our spiritual riches and for the glorious future that awaits us on the other side!
Lord, I confess my sins of complaining. I want to shine for you by being thankful.Please help me Lord. Amen.
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